SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen.

This job is also being advertised for applicants eligible for status consideration. Current and former status employees and veterans who qualify under VEOA are encouraged to also apply to announcement: FRA.R7-2013-0003.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is responsible for ensuring safety of the Nation's passenger and freight rail operations and infrastructure by promoting safe, efficient and accessible rail transportation. The mission and focus of FRA has grown to include the design and management of an unprecedented investment in the creation of a nationwide passenger rail network. FRA is providing leadership for the creation of a more balanced transportation system, transforming the way Americans travel.

To meet this mission FRA promulgates and enforces rail safety regulations; consolidates government support of rail transportation activities; administers financial assistance programs; conducts research and development in support of improved railroad safety and efficiency, and national transportation policy, including improved intercity passenger service.

Do you like identifying problems, analyzing facts, and making recommendations; are you a good communicator; would you like to make a difference in the railroad industry, if so, then this job is for you! You will serve as a Railroad Safety Inspector (Track). As an inspector you will enforce Federal safety and health regulations that apply to railroad track and railroad workers. The objective of this position is to minimize the risk of human casualty and societal loss due to train accidents caused by defective conditions of railroad track and structures, or hazardous working conditions for railroad employees. The demands of the position require skills in evaluation, fact-finding, report writing; comprehension and application of technical and regulatory standards, as well as the ability to gain cooperation of individuals and organizations.

This position is perfect for a mid-level professional with a strong technical background in applying current Federal railroad safety track standards, as well as strong analytical and communication skills; and experience with conducting inspections pertaining to railroad track to identify defects; mission focused, and is looking for great health benefits and a stable work-life environment.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

You must be a U.S. Citizen and meet specialized experience to qualify.

Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

Review How to Apply Section as documents are required by closing date.

You must meet the Selective Factors to qualify.

Announcement is also advertised merit promotion: FRA.R7-2013-0003.

Job announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 30 days.

DUTIES:

Performs inspections and monitoring functions to assure compliance with Federal safety and health regulations among railroads, railroad employees, and contractors assigned to the geographical territory.

Investigates complaints from railroad employees, the general public, or Legislative or governmental representatives involving unsafe conditions of track or the other subject areas of responsibility, and interviews complainants, railroad officials, and any parties as required for proper investigation of the complaint.

Performs, either individually, or as a member or leader of a team, investigations of significant train accidents resulting in serious injury to persons or property damage and determines probable cause of accident or incident and whether any Federal regulations were violated.

Initiates and maintains contacts with employees in other Federal, State and local government agencies, as well as mid-level officials of the railroads and rail labor organizations in connection with issues relating to Federal railroad assistance and enforcement of Federal railroad safety regulations.

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the following:

GRADE 12

Experience conducting track inspections and applying Part 213 and 214 regulations for the purpose of reporting on the safety compliance conditions of the railroad track, facilities, safe working procedures and provisions of the employees, and the surrounding track right-of-way areas and have knowledge of proper remedial action to those conditions.

Experience analyzing information that can be used during the course of conducting railroad inspections, or used to determine probable cause of railroad related collisions, derailments, or other accidents/incidents.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.

INTERVIEW: Applicants may be required to demonstrate in a pre-employment interview that they possess the personal characteristics necessary for Railroad Safety work.

DECLARATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT: The selectees for railroad safety positions will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

DRUG TEST: Railroad Safety Inspectors have been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1D entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace." Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.

TRAVEL: This position requires extensive travel. The travel is a condition of employment.

DRIVER'S LICENSE: Railroad Safety Inspectors travel frequently, which requires being away from the official duty station for several consecutive nights. All Railroad Safety Inspectors are required to possess a valid state drivers license at all times while employed by the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) in order to perform the duties of their positions.

GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD REQUIREMENT: You must be able to obtain and retain a Government contractor-issued travel card to be used for official business as a condition of employment. If unable to obtain and/or retain a card, you may be subject to removal. Those who fail to meet this condition of employment will have our offer of employment rescinded.

TRAVEL EXPENSES: Travel and transportation expenses will be paid if the selection results in a promotion OR for a geographical reassignment if the FRA selectee occupies a position at the same grade level that has significantly different duties from that of this position vacancy. Travel and transportation expenses will not be paid if a candidate outside the FRA is selected OR a FRA employee accepts a change to the lower grade that results in a geographical reassignment for this position vacancy.

SENIORITY RIGHTS - LEAVES OF ABSENCE - RE-EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS: The FRA has determined that seniority rights, leaves of absence, and reemployment rights from prior railroad employment generally constitute an actual or an appearance of a conflict of interest. New employees may be required to divest themselves of such rights immediately upon hire if these rights are determined to constitute an actual or appearance of a conflict of interest. If new employees are permitted to retain such rights, which is generally the case for Railroad Safety positions, the rights must be divested at the end of the one year probationary period which begins with the date of appointment. Divestiture is a requisite to continued employment with the Federal Railroad Administration. No waivers will be granted of the divestiture requirement. Pursuant to 5 C.F.R. Parts 2635.403 and 6001.104, all FRA employees (or spouses or minor children of FRA employees) are specifically prohibited from holding railroad stock (including shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. which owns 100% of BNSF), whether held outright, in an IRA, or in a 401(k) or other plan. (Employees may hold a mutual fund which invests in railroad stocks, so long as the mutual fund does not invest more than 30% of its assets in such prohibited investments.) Employees having a prohibited financial interest must divest themselves of railroad stock within 90 days after their appointment to their positions. Neither the rule against holding railroad stock, nor the divestiture period, is in any way affected by the existence of re-employment rights which employees might have with railroad companies. Nor is there any monetary threshold for applicability of the rule against ownership of railroad stock; all dollar amounts are prohibited. If selected, you will be subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct applicable to all executive branch employees. Selectees will be required to complete a new entrant confidential financial disclosure report (Office of Government Ethics Form 450) within 30 days of hire (except if hired between Nov.15 and Dec. 31). Thereafter, selectees will be required to annually file a confidential financial disclosure report by Feb. 15 of each year, pursuant to instructions issued in early January.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If your resume does not support the specialized experience or if your application does not support your answers to the Vacancy Specific Questions, your final rating may be modified and/or you may be disqualified from consideration.

HOW TO APPLY:

You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.

To begin, click the Apply Online button on the job announcement posting.

Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.

You may review your saved application(s) at https://my.usajobs.gov.

If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET) at (202) 366-1298. You may also email us at Transjobs@dot.gov.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The following documents must be provided by the closing date:

RESUME - showing relevant experience and education

COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE.

VETERANS: In order to be considered as preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are claiming compensably disabled preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. Additional information on veterans' preference is available in the Vet's Guide at: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx

DISPLACED EMPLOYEE PLACEMENT DOCUMENTS: - Only required if requesting priority consideration under http://www.opm.gov/ctap/ CTAP/ICTAP</A>. You must submit ALL of the FOLLOWING: your most recent performance appraisal, the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency and your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade. To receive priority consideration, you MUST be deemed well qualified for this vacancy (falling in the Gold Category).

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

You may check your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account. Within two weeks of the closing date, your application will be reviewed and rated. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring manager will contact you directly. Once a hiring decision is made, we will notify all applicants of their final status.